End: Gap Point
Campsite, Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park

Distance: 57 miles

Duration: 5 days

Special Considerations:
Be wary of strong winds in open water sections (which is most of the
route). Currents moving through all three passes can be strong,
depending upon tidal fluctuations. After Stump’s Hole, you’ll need to
paddle along the Gulf for several miles, where the surf can pose a
challenge.

A portable portage carrier
is advised for the Stump’s Hole land crossing.

Introduction

Vast segments of unspoiled
public lands and islands are featured in this segment, from the high
dunes of St. Joseph Peninsula State Park to the wild palm-lined shores
of St. Vincent Island to the old-growth coastal slash pine forests of
Cape St. George State Reserve. Paddlers will also enjoy the St. Joseph
and Apalachicola bays, among the most productive waters in the state in
terms of marine life. In addition, Apalachicola Bay provides the
majority of the state’s oyster harvest, and paddlers will likely see
flotillas of characteristically shaped oyster boats with their small
cabins. Oystermen pull up the rock-hard oysters by hand using long
tongs, a practice that has changed little in more than a century.

In addition, the trail
traverses the massive 12,495-acre St. Vincent Island National Wildlife
Refuge (
http://www.fws.gov/saintvincent/). Named St. Vincent by
Franciscan friars in the 1600s, the island is one of the few sites where
endangered red wolves are propagated and trained to live in the wild.
Most of these wolves are eventually captured and released at either the
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina or the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park. Also, given the island’s history as a
private hunting retreat stocked with exotic animals, large sambar deer,
native to southeast Asia, still roam the island and can occasionally be
spotted. They may weigh several hundred pounds each.

Many of the primitive
campsites in this segment are part of the Apalachicola Bay Aquatic and
Buffer Preserve Kayak and Canoe Trail, developed by staff with the
Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve in coordination with
other government entities. These sites are “pack-it-in, pack-it-out”
only, with campers following Leave No Trace principles
www.lnt.orgAll sites are on a first-come, first-serve policy with
the exception of sites within state parks, whereupon reservations must
be made through the individual parks.

The St. Joseph State Park’s wilderness preserve,
one of only six in the state park system, encompasses the northern 7.5
miles of the peninsula (over 1,750 acres). This is an unspoiled
landscape of large dunes and coastal scrub and grasslands. The preserve
is accessible by foot or by boat, and circumnavigational paddlers can
primitive camp in the preserve at a designated campsite with advance
reservations. Call 850-227-1327 to reserve a site. Calling ahead avoids
conflict with other users. The site capacity is set to protect the
wilderness quality of the area. Payment is due on the day of arrival and
is normally paid at the ranger station, although a long-distance paddler
can pay by phone with a credit card the day of arrival ($5.00 per person
per night). No fires are allowed and campers must follow “Leave No
Trace” principles. Paddlers need to check in at least two hours before
sunset and check out with park personnel.

There are paddler
campsites that can be accessed from the bay or from the Gulf. Campsites
2 & 7 can be accessed on the bay side. Campsites 3 can be accessed from
the Gulf where you must hike in from the beach following marked trails
and camp in the designated camping site. There is a limit of five
campers per site and most sites can accommodate 2-3 small tents. The two
full-service family campgrounds are accessible from the Gulf and must be
reserved through Reserve America, http://www.reserveamerica.com/,
1-800-326-3521.

From the wilderness preserve, paddle through the
clear waters on the St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserver. The shallow bay
waters are homes and nurseries for numerous fish and sea animals, such
as sea urchins, scallops and snails. Seagrass beds are lush and
abundant. Fishing and summer scalloping are popular recreational
activities.

Nearing the halfway point, water and restrooms are
available at the southern end of the state park, at the picnic area and
boat ramp (see map). Outdoor cold showers are at the beach restrooms,
across the road from the parks boat ramp along the bay. The park also
offers new and kayak rentals. A small grocery store can be found about 5
miles outside the park boundary along 30E.

The Tower primitive
campsite is located near a dock in and abandoned fire tower. The
campsite is bare patch of of sand near the tower fence. Mud bay inhibit
landing at low tide.

2. Tower primitive campsite to Indian Pass
Campground, 11 miles

From the campsite, paddle a short distance to the Stump Hole canoe and
kayak launch. Here, you’ll have a challenging portage to the Gulf side.
A portable portage cart will make this much easier. The safest route is
to travel a couple of hundred yards west along the highway to where the
rock jetty ends and the Gulf is easily accessible. Take extra
precautions because there is a blind curve. From here, you’ll
paddle along the shore to Indian Pass. A welcome rest stop is the
county-owned Salinas Park, where water, restrooms and picnic tables are
available (see map).

The Indian Pass
Campground is privately owned and has water, showers, restrooms, cabins,
a swimming pool, and a small store. Fortunately, the tent camping area
is easily accessible by water, enabling you to beach your kayak within
easy view of your campsite. Land at the Indian Pass boat ramp and walk a
short distance to the circular campground office to register before
landing at the campground. Reservations are recommended, especially on
weekends. Call 850-227-7203 or log onto www.indianpasscamp.com

The Indian Pass Trading
Post is a couple of miles up the road, where you can sample area oysters
and other seafood (closed on Mondays).

3. Indian Pass Campground to Government
Dock Primitive Campsite, 15 miles

Paddling along St. Vincent Island on the bay side, you’ll have many
opportunities to land on a wild shoreline lined with cabbage palms, live
oaks and slash pine. Indian pottery and oyster shells litter the shore
as Native Americans utilized the island for thousands of years. Paddling
along or standing on the shore, it is easy to envision the lifestyles
and foods of these early inhabitants. Bear in mind that it is unlawful
to remove artifacts.

A highlight of the island
shoreline is the northwestern corner known as St.Vincent Point, a scenic
area where a thick grove of cabbage palm trees line the water. Evidence
of sea level rise and heavy erosion is evident as many trees are being
inundated. From here, you can make a beeline across open water to the
Government Dock primitive campsite on Cape St. George Island. The
campsite is located just inland from the second dock.

As an alternative, you
can paddle south along St. Vincent Island to the West Pass primitive
campsite on Cape St. George. Along this route, you can explore some of
St. Vincent’s large lakes accessible from the bay side, although some
lakes may be closed if bald eagles are actively nesting. If taking this
route, it is 13.5 miles from Indian Pass to the West Pass campsite. Or,
if you paddle the Gulf route along St. Vincent Island to West Pass, it
is a little over 9 miles, although this route is less interesting.

Alternate route: If you wish to explore more of the area’s
fishing culture, and to avoid unfavorable north winds, you can hug the
northern shore after leaving Indian Pass and paddle to Battery Park in
the town of Apalachicola, about 15.5 miles. From there, you can walk to
any number of motels, restaurants or gift shops. Apalachicola is an
historic fishing village where many residents still actively make their
living from the sea, especially with regards to harvesting shrimp and
oysters.

From Apalachicola, you can paddle across the bay six or seven miles
to a number of campsites on either Cape St. George or St. George Island.
If you remain on the north side of the bay, the primitive campsite near
Carrabelle is about 20 miles from Apalachicola (see segment 5). You can
take a rest break at Eastpoint and purchase smoked mullet near the
public boat ramp (see map).

4. Government Dock Primitive Campsite to
Boy Scout Camp, 8 miles

The first half of this day is very scenic with slash pines that stand
right up against the bay. Look for the angular cuts or “cat-faced” scars
on older trees made by early workers to collect sap for making
turpentine. The industry died out in the 1940s. Also, scan the skies and
treetops for bald eagles that frequent the area in cooler months and
sometimes nest along the bay in large pines. Give nesting trees a wide
berth.

Government Cut or Sike’s
Cut marks the halfway point. This is an artificial pass dredged between
the bay and Gulf in 1954 thatt separatesCape St. George from St. George
Island.Cape St. George from St. George
Island.
There is a campsite on the bay-side of the island about 400 yards west
of the cut. The site is located back from the bay shore about 100 yards
and is nestled behind a clump of palmetto bushes. There is a large
stone fire ring marking the spot. As with any pass, be wary of strong currents. Just past the cut,
you will pass an exclusive subdivision where docking or landing is
prohibited. Proceed along the island to Nick’s Hole, a wild cove, where
a lone dock and hobie sailboats mark the Boy Scout camp. Land on the
small beach just past the dock. This campsite has porta-potties, picnic
tables, sink, and fire rings. The water may or may not be turned on.
Please be respectful and keep the site clean so it remains open for
trail users..

5. Boy Scout Camp to Gap Point Campsite,
10.5 miles

A welcome rest stop is a sand
landing on the east side of the St. George Island bridge. Here, you can
easily access stores and restaurants. A small grocery store is just east
of the main road.

One option for camping is the Unit 4
campsite just east of the bridge along the bay. Primitive camping here
is free and on a first-come, first-serve basis since it is outside the
state park.

There are two primitive campsites in St. George
Island State Park at scenic Gap Point. Gap Point is located across the
bay from the state park’s youth camp area and boat ramp (rental
sit-on-top kayaks can be obtained here after making arrangements at
entrance station). The Gap Point sites have no water or facilities and
are located almost a half mile apart from each other. There is a 2.5
mile nature trail that traverses a terrain of old-growth slash pine and
large bell-shaped rosemary plants. On the trail, look for “cat faces”
on the trees from early turpentine operations. The island was also used
for cattle grazing and as a practice bombing range during WWII. Like
most barrier islands and shorelines in the region, you may see evidence
of Native American occupation which predates European contact by
thousands of years. Restrooms and hot showers are available in the
family campground which is located at the end of the 2.5 mile trail from
Gap Point. The youth camp, across the bay from the campsite, is also
available to paddlers if not reserved by groups. There is a restroom and
cold showers available at the youth camp area; check with the park about
availability.

The third campsite in the state park is known as
Sugar Hill. It is located 3 miles northeast of Gap Point. Cold water /
outdoor showers, drinking water and restrooms are available only 200
yards southeast from the Sugar Hill campsite on the ocean side at the
end of a sand trail. Camp in the designated area. Please avoid walking
on the fragile dunes.

Call the park office between 8am and sunset
at 850 927-2111 if you plan to utilize any of the three primitive
campsites in the park or the youth camp. A small fee is required. Length
of stay is limited.